DFB-Pokal: Borussia Dortmund threat to Bayern Munich treble quest

With a 17-point cushion at the top of the Bundesliga, there appears to be no stopping Bayern from winning their 22nd Bundesliga title, while a 3-1 win at Arsenal has put them on course for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

However, their recent record against Borussia Dortmund makes their midweek clash the biggest hurdle on the way to their most glorious season on record.

"It's definitely a difficult game, not only for us but for Dortmund," said Bayern's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge who has every reason to be optimistic after his side's 6-1 demolition of Werder Bremen at the weekend.

A glance at the statistics suggests otherwise, though, with Dortmund unbeaten in their last five competitive meetings with Bayern.

"We want to reach the next round," said their coach Jurgen Klopp. "We have noticed how the respect Bayern show us is greater.

"We are one of the few clubs on the planet who can beat Bayern.

"If you only give 98 per cent, then you can't beat them, but with 100 per cent, anything is possible."

The game would certainly be worthy of the final in Berlin, where it was held last May as Dortmund ran out emphatic 5-2 winners.

There will be a different final this year, though, with one of the finalists packing their bags on Wednesday, and there could well be a new name etched on the trophy this season too.

Mainz and Freiburg meet on Tuesday night in the first quarter-final, and neither club have ever reached the final, let alone lifted the trophy aloft.

Third-division Kickers Offenbach are also still in the hunt, and they host 1995 finalists Wolfsburg.

Finally, one of Stuttgart or second-division Bochum will make up the draw for the last four.